Ship



Feb. 12, 1946. B RAY 'EFVAL 2,394,607

SHIP

Filed Dec. 15, 1942 INVENTOR. REID s. GRAY y JOSEPH c. DE WEESE ATTO E'vPatented Feb. 12, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE] Middle River, Md.,assignors to The Glenn-L. Martin Company, Middle River, Md., acorporation of Maryland ApplicationDecember 15, 1942, Serial.No.469,-150

Claims. (01. 114-74) portation of dry cargo on a return or subsequenttrip.

Another object of thisinvention is to provide boatsrthat will transportliquid cargo in a very simple and inexpensively constructed craft.

This invention may be used to convert the cargo carrying space of anordinary freighter so that it may transport liquid cargo, such as oil orgasoline or'itcmay'be applied to specially constructed barges for use oninland water ways. These barges may be of wood or concrete or any othersimilar inexpensive material rather than the ordinary sheet metalconstruction that must be made fluid-tight.

Further and other objects will become apparent from the description ofthe accompanying drawing which forms a part of this disclosure and inwhich like numerals refer to like parts.

The drawing discloses a barge generally indicated as I, which may be ofwood plank or concrete construction. The cargo carrying hold 2 isdivided up into compartments by partitions 3 which may be eithertemporary or permanent construction. These partitions together with theside walls of the barge form a rectangular compartment into which isplaced a flexible fluid containin cell 4. The cover members 5 aresupported on the partition and afford a protective cover for thecompartments.

Stra members 6 are shown secured to each cell whereby the cells aresupported in the compartment to prevent the collapse of the cell whenempty. An opening I in the top of each cell registers with an opening inthe cover member to provide access for filling and emptying the cell. Afitting 8 secures the edges of the openings together. Covers 9 areplaced over the openings when not in use.

The cell used in carrying out this invention may be of any material orconstruction which will render the cell sufiiciently flexible and ruggedso that it may be collapsed and stored in a relatively small space, andwithstand handling and transportation. The materials of the cell whichcome in contact with the liquid must, of course,

be inertto any chemical. reaction with the liquid.

-An example of at specific cellof the above specifications would be onecomprising. a layer or layers of, falbric, impregnated with aliquidproo-i plastic material. Where more than one layer ofrfabric isused, the impregnating plastic material would also act to bond thelayersof fabric in-to asingleflexible wall structure.- The plasticmaterialsmust besuch-as will render the wall structure flexible andresistant to the chemical action vof the; liquid.

Suitable materials may: be of the Perbunan or Thickol RD type composedof co-polymers-of acrylonitrile and. ,butadiene, or hydrolysis-prod.-uctsof cot-polymers .such. as ResistofleX-which is made 'upof.polyvinylialcohol and polyvinylacetate. Condensation polymers; suchasthe Thiokols; which may be'either of the ethylene dichloride ordichloroethyl ether type condensed with sodium polysulfide; or nylonwhich is a condensation product of adipic acid and. hexamethylenediamine, may also be used.

In the event that the impregnating material used is not resistant to theaction of the fluid carried in the cell, the above materials may be usedas a lining for the cell.

The cell is shaped to conform with the shape of the cavity and whilecoated with a liquidproof material must retain its flexibility for tworeasons. As long as the cell is substantially equal to the size of theretaining compartment no stress will be placed upon the cell wallstructure but all of the fluid load will be borne by the walls of theretaining structure. If the cell is slightly larger than the cavity, thestress is borne by the retaining walls. If the cell is slightly smallerthan the cavity, the flexible wall is bulged outwardly and transmits thefluid pressure loads to the retaining walls. For successful operation,the walls of the cell must at all times be free from stress or stretch.

The reason for the flexibility of the cells is that upon reaching itsdestination and being unloaded, a liquid pay load may not be availablefor the return trip. In this case the cells may be removed from thecompartments and rolled up and stowed in a small portion of the cargocarrying compartment. The partitions may or may not be removable,depending upon the construction, but if they are removable may also bestowed making available a large cargo carrying space for the return tripfor a dry cargo.

' The economy of this type of construction should be obvious withrespect to carrying pay loads on each trip. Considerable economy iseffected in this type of construction due to the fact that the boatconstruction itself does not have to be fluid tight as this feature isfurnished by the cells. The invention is illustrated in a barge, severalof which would be towed by a tug through inland water ways and afford avery economical means oftransporting liquid and dry 1 cargo in the samevessel.

It should be obvious to those skilled in the art that this type, ofconstruction could readily be applied to any water craft.

the fluid pressure load is borne by the compartment walls.

3. In a cargo carrying boat having temporary partitions arranged todivide the cargo space 'within the cells, whereby the dry cargo space ofthe boat can be adapted to carry liquid cargo It is to be understoodthat certain changes,

alterations, modifications and substitutions can be made withoutdepartingfrom the spirit scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

and

1. In combination, a boat having a cargo carv rying space, removablepartitions dividing said space into a plurality of compartments, a Heible-walled, rubber-like liquid impervious cell placed in each of saidcompartments, substantially filling said compartments so that the wallsof said compartments act as a retaining structure for said cells,securing means to support said cells on the walls of said compartmentsto prevent the collapse of certain flexible-walled cellswhen empty.

'2. Incombination, a boat having a cargo carrying space,removable-partitions dividing said space'into a plurality ofcompartments, a flexible-walled liquid impervious cell placed in each ofsaid compartments, the walls of said compartments acting as retainingstructure for said cells,

-mnsions of said retaining structure whereby securing means on saidcells and compartment yet readily reconverted to carry dry cargo.

4. In a cargo carrying boat having removable partitions arranged todivide the cargo space into a plurality of compartments, flexiblewalled, liquidimpervious cells mounted in said compartments, the wallsof said compartments retaining said cell walls and bearing the pressureload within the liquid cells, the dimensions of said cell being suchthat the volumetric capacity of said cell, if filled out, butsubstantially unstretched, is greater-"than the volumetric capacity ofthe retaining structure.

5. In combination, a boat having a cargo'carrying space, temporarypartitions dividing said space into a plurality o'f'compartments, aflexible-walled, liquid impervious cell placed in each 7 of saidcompartments, securing means to support said cells from the walls ofsaid compartments when empty, from collapse, an opening in each cellwall adjacent the top of said cell, cover members for each compartment,each cover member having an opening which registers with the opening insaid cell wall, fitting members joining said openings furnishing accessto the interior of saidcells. I

,REID VB. GRAY. V VVJOSEVPI-I c. DEVWEESE.

